Fountain pen



Sept. 16, 1941. H. R. HUGHES I 6,

FOUNTAIN PEN Fiied Feb. 20, 1939 I 2 l x051 /& N W'V/fi/Wi llVVE/VTOR.

A T TOR/V5 KS.

Patented Sept. 16, 1941 FOUNTAIN PEN Horace Roderic Hughes, Alcester, England Application February 20, 1939, Serial In Great Britain July 16,1938

10 Claims.

This invention relates to fountain pens and it has for its object to obtain an efiicient flow of ink from the feed bar to the pen nib. A further object of this invention is to construct a fountain pen in which the feed bar feeds the ink to an auxiliary reservoir on the nib and maintains a continuity of ink feed from the feed bar to the nib, so that the nib remains efficiently charged for writing purposes under all normal conditions of writing. A further object of this invention is to provide a reservoir pen nib and feed bar which can be fitted together and accurately assembled as a single unit by a nontechnical person by simply pushing into the neck of the holder which forms the main ink reservoir.

Referring to the drawing,

Figure 1 is an underside face view of a pen nib and feed bar fitted into the end of the holder.

Figure 2 is a section on line 11-11 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an elevation of the feedbar detached.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the feed bar.

Figure 5 is a section on line VV of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a corresponding view to Figure 5 and shows a modified form of the channel.

Figure 7 illustrates a cross section of another modified form of feed bar.

Figure 8 shows in side elevation a spring plate fixed to a feed rod.

Figure 9 is a side elevation of a modified form of ink feed bar, and

Figure 10 is a side elevation of the feed bar at right angles to the view shown by Figure 9.

According to a convenient embodiment of this invention, the fountain pen holder is of the usual construction and comprises a main reservoir tube I mounted on the neck 2 fixed to the holder stem 3. The ink feed bar 4 has an ink feed channel running longitudinally down one side, the channel being divided by a central longitudinal rib 5 which divides the feed channel into two channels 6 and l. The channels 6 and I pass out through the front face 8 and the rear face 9 of the feed bar and the front end is bevelled so that the front face 8 lies at an angle to the axis of the feed bar. As shown by Figure 5, the rib 5 may extend to substantially th full depth of the groove to form substantially two independent channels; or as shown by Figure 6 the central rib 5ais smaller than the depth of the channel.

The nib i0 is fitted with a plate H to form an auxiliary ink reservoir on the nib. In the form shown, the plate H is provided with lateral lugs I2 which are pivotally mounted in perforations I 3 in the sides of the pen nib. The front end M of the plate ll spring presses on the pointed end of the nib, whilst the rear end I5 is supported at a point rearwardly of the pivots l2 and convenientl on the rear side portion of the nib. A portion of the plate H rearwardly of the pivots I 2, conveniently, has a slit It so that theend It will be pressed on the nib with light pressure and so that the end 14 will follow the movement of the nib when flexed during writing and still maintain in all positions a light pressure thereon; The front end of the feed bar is cut away as shown by Figure 4 and the reduced portion of the feed bar passes between the reservoir plate l I and the nib ID, the channels 5 and I lie adjacent the underface of the nib.

The ink can thus flow from the main reservoir I along the feed channels 6 and 7 directed into the reservoir space I! between the plate II and the nib. When the space ll is filled with ink, further flow along the channel in the feed bar will be resisted. The front portion'M of the plate H lies comparatively close to the nib and has a steep incline or stepped portion at l8 where it passes to the portion of the plate carrying the pivots 12. The front face 8 of the feedbar lies spaced behind this inclined portion l8 of the spring plate, to permit the free movement of the spring plate I], the plate ll flexing with the nib during writing keeping the space H filled with ink and prevents any break in the flow from the end of the feed bar to the point of the nib. When the space I! is filled the large area of the surface forming the wall of the reservoir compared withthe ink contained normally prevents the ink escaping sideways and the ink in the reservoir when filled prevents further flow along the feed bar. The central rib down the feed channel divides the flow and minimizes air,- locking and the large surface area frictionally resisting flow thereover restricts the pressure of the flow whilst keeping a continuous feed to replace the ink taken from the reservoir when writing. The ink therefore from the main reservoir I has free communication with the auxiliary reservoir I! on the nib and whilst the reservoir H is constantly filled, the flow is automatically resisted to prevent flooding and such that the feed will only replace the ink used. As. there is a store of ink on the nib, the extreme accuracy required to obtain the direct rate of flow to the point of the nib is rendered-unnecessary as there is in such latter case no intermediate balancing of the feed and the rate of extraction when writing.

The point of the pen nib is also fed with ink so that when the pen nib is of suitable flexibility, thick and thin strokes can be obtained. When the ends of such a nib open to give a thick stroke, the pressure and flexing of the plate II that occurs concurrently with the consequent flexing of the nib will keep intact a channel to carry ink to the point of the nib and maintain a continuity of feed from the feed bar.

The pen nib complete with reservoir and feed bar are fixed as a single unit in the bore of the neck 2 by a push fit. The feed bar is positioned in the nib, by the shoulder 19 bearing against the end of the plate II. This positions the inclined portion l8 of the plate ll relative to the end of the feed bar and this is the only positioning required.

The ink feed bar 23 as shown byFigures 9 and 10 may befof the type in which a breather tube 24 is mounted in the end of the bar, the

tube communicating with one of the feed channels in the feed bar.

In a modified form as shown by Figure 8,

the spring plate 2| is .mounted on the ink feed bar, instead of on the nib as shown by Figure 2. The spring plate 2| is similar to the spring plate H, except that lugs 22 are provided for engaging pivots carried by the feed bar.

I claim:

1. A fountain pen comprising an ink reservoir in the holder having a neck which forms the pen nib'holder, a pen nib, a plate forming an auxiliary ink reservoir pivoted intermediate its 2' ends on the nib and'having its front end spring pressing on the pointed end of the nib and the rear end supported rearwardly of the pivot axis, an ink feed bar fitted in the opening in the said neck and having an ink channel therealong which the opening in the said neck, having an ink channel down one side and passing out through 'the front end face of the feedbar, a pen nib provided with a member on the underside to form an intermediate ink reservoir on the nib and which nib is fitted in the said opening in the neck with the underside against the channelled side of the feed bar and with the end of the bar projecting into the said intermediate reservoir, the said plate forming the intermediate reservoir having a stepped portion which lies in front of but spaced from the end of the feed bar the rear plate behind this stepped portion lying over the feed bar and the front portion lying adjacent to the pointed portion of the nib with the end of such front portion bearing on the pointed end of the nib.

3. A fountain pen comprising an ink reservoir in the holder having a neck which forms the pen nib holder, a pen nib, a plate forming an auxiliary ink reservoir pivoted'intermediate its ends on the nib and having its front end spring pressing on the pointed end of the nib and the rear end supported rearwardly of the pivot axis, an ink feed bar fitted in the opening in the said neck and having an ink channel therealong and which passes through each end face of the bar,

the front face of which is inclined outwardly towards the nib, the said plate forming the intermediate reservoir having a stepped portion which lies in front of but spaced from the end of the feed bar, the rear part of the plate behind this stepped portion lying over the feed bar and the front portion lying adjacent to the pointed portion of the nib with the end of such front portion bearing on the pointed end of the nib.

4. A fountain pen comprising an ink reservoir in the holder having a neck which forms the pen nib holder, a pen nib, a plate forming an auxiliary ink reservoir pivoted intermediate its ends on the feed bar and having its front end spring pressing on the pointed end of the nib and the rear end supported rearwardly of the pivot axis, an ink feedbar fitted in the opening in the said neck' and having an ink channel therealong which lies against the underside of the pen nib and with thefeed bar projecting into the space between the said plate and the nib with the ink channel in communication with the auxiliary ink reservoir.

5. A fountain pen comprising an ink reservoir in the holder having a neck which forms the pen nib holder, a pen nib, a plate forming an auxiliary ink reservoir pivoted intermediate its ends on the feed bar and having its front end spring pressing on the pointed end of the nib and the rear end supported rearwardly of the pivot axis, an ink feed bar fitted in the opening in the said neck and having an ink channel therealong and which passes through each end face of the bar, the front face of which is inclined outwardly towards the nib, the said plate forming the intermediate reservoir having a stepped portion which lies in front of but spaced "from the end of the feed bar, the rear part of the plate behind this stepped portion lying over the feed bar and the front portion lying adjacent to the pointed portion of the nib with the end of such front portion bearing on the pointed end of the nib.

'6. A fountain pen comprising an ink reservoir I in the holder, a pen nib, a plate forming an auxiliary ink reservoir pivoted intermediate its ends on the feed bar and having its front end spring pressing on the pointed end of the nib and the rear end supported rearwardly of the pivot axis, an ink feed bar which projects into the space between the said plate and the nib with the ink feed duct in communication with the auxiliary ink reservoir.

7. In combination: a fountain pen comprising a main ink reservoir in the holder having a neck which forms the pen nib holder, an ink feed bar, fitted in the opening in the said neck, having an ink channel down one side and passing out through the front end face of the feed bar, a pen nib, a plate attached to the nib and forming a combined unit therewith and which plate spring presses on the underside of the pointed end of the nib and forms an intermediate ink reservoir on the nib which extends beyond the end of the feed bar to near the pointed end of the nib and which nib is fitted in the said opening in the neck with the underside against the channelled side of the feed bar and with the end of the bar having the said front face projecting ,into the said intermediate reservoir, the feed "bar having an abutment against which said res ervoir plate bears so that when the nib as a 'unit complete with intermediate ink reservoir and the .feed bar. are inserted together as a push fit in the said neck of the main ink reservoir they are positioned with the feed bar correctly arranged in the intermediate reservoir.

8. In combination: a fountain pen comprising an ink reservoir in the holder having a neck which forms the pen nib holder, a pen nib, a plate provided on the underside of the nib to form an auxiliary ink reservoir on the nib and having a rear raised portion and a front portion lying close to the underside of the pointed end of the nib, an ink feed bar having an ink feed channel longitudinally down one side and passing out through each end face of the bar, a ridge passing longitudinally down the channel to form a double channel, and which feed bar is fitted with the said channel lying against the underside of the nib and with the front end projecting into the space forming the auxiliary reservoir between the said plate and the underside of the nib, with the end face lying adjacent the junction between the front and rear portions of the said plate forming the intermediate ink reservoir and said plate engaging an abutment on the feed bar so that when the nib as a unit complete with intermediate ink reservoir and the feed bar are inserted together as a push fit in the said neck of the main ink reservoir they are correctly positioned to one another.

9. In combination: a fountain pen comprising an ink reservoir in the holder having a neck which forms the pen nib holder, an ink feed bar fitted in the opening in the said neck and having an ink channel therealong, a pen nib provided with the plate on the underside to form an auxiliary reservoir on the nib, and which nib is fitted in the said opening in the neck with the 35 underside against the channeled side of the feed bar and with the front end of the feed bar projecting into the space between the said plate and the underside of the nib to feed the ink into the auxiliary ink reservoir which is formed between the front end face of the feed bar and the plate and between a portion of the plate extending from the feed bar to near the pointed end of the nib and the underside of the nib, the back edge of the auxiliary reservoir plate engaging in an abutment on the feed bar so that when the nib as a unit complete with auxiliary reservoir and the feed bar are inserted together as a push fit in the said neck of the main ink reservoir they are correctly positioned to one another. 7

10. In combination: a fountain pen comprising a main ink reservoir in the holder having a neck which forms the pen nib holder, an ink feed bar, fitted in the opening in the said neck, having an ink channel down one side and passing out through the front end face of the feed bar, a pen nib, a plate attached to and forming part of the nib and removable therewith which spring presses on the underside of the pointed end of the nib and forms an intermediate ink reservoir on the nib, the nib being fitted in the said opening in the neck with the underside against the channelled side of the feed bar and with the end of the bar projecting into the said intermediate reservoir, the said plate forming the intermediate reservoir having a stepped portion which lies in front of but spaced from the end of the feed bar, the rear plate behind this stepped portion lying over the feed bar and the front portion lying adjacent to the pointed portion of the nib with the end of such front portion having an inturned tip bearing on the pointed end of the nib.

HORACE RODERIC HUGHES. 

